Score: Houghton College 7 – Elmira College 2
Records: Houghton (11-5, 4-3 E8), Elmira (8-7, 3-4 E8)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, N.Y.
 
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- The path to an Empire 8 Conference Tournament berth just became much harder for the Elmira College men's tennis team, as the Soaring Eagles dropped a 7-2 league bout to visiting Houghton College this afternoon at the Murray Athletic Center. Following this evening's contest, Elmira honored its lone senior Chris Konow '18, who will graduate a year early this June.
 
Houghton pounced on the Soaring Eagles in doubles action, earning wins in all three matches to take a 3-0 lead heading into singles play. Of the three doubles contests, the closest match took place at the No. 2 spot, as EC's Stephen Gervase '20 and Konow dropped a tight 8-5 decision. The Elmira duo held a 5-4 lead in the match, but the Highlanders elevated their level of play down the stretch to win four straight games to clinch the win. Houghton held their serve to make it 5-5, before breaking, holding and breaking once more for the victory.
 
Singles action was also controlled by the visitors, as they took four of the six matches to solidify their 11th win of the season. Elmira picked up wins at the third and fifth spots, as Patrick Tracey '18 continued his winning ways with a one-sided 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 3, while Konow downed his counterpart from Houghton in straight sets as well, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 5.
 
Scores
Singles
1. Zach Shilvock (HOUGHTON) def. Theo Tran (ELMIRA) 6-4, 6-0
2. Jordan Crouch (HOUGHTON) def. Anthony Colavito (ELMIRA) 6-0, 6-2
3. Patrick Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Jake Fisler (HOUGHTON) 6-0, 6-2
4. Jordan Scott (HOUGHTON) def. Yaniv Kogan (ELMIRA) 6-4, 6-2
5. Chris Konow (ELMIRA) def. Bjorn Webb (HOUGHTON) 6-1, 6-2
6. Connor Barnes (HOUGHTON) def. Stephen Gervase (ELMIRA) 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-8)
 
Doubles
1. Shilvock/Crouch (HOUGHTON) def. Tran/Tracey (ELMIRA) 8-2
2. Webb/Scott (HOUGHTON) def. Konow/Gervase (ELMIRA) 8-5
3. Barnes/Fisler (HOUGHTON) def. Colavito/Kogan (ELMIRA) 8-3
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,2,1,4,5,6)
 
News and Notes

• Elmira's conference record dropped below .500 for the first time since April 9th.
• With today's loss, Elmira's all-time series record against Houghton stands at 2-2.
• EC's home record fell to 4-5 on the year and 2-3 in the team's last five contests.
• Konow played in his final match at the Murray Athletic Center.
• Tracey improved to 10-2 in his last 12 singles matches and is 11-5 on the season.

 
Up Next
The Elmira men conclude the 2016-17 regular season this Saturday, April 29, with a trip to Rochester, New York, as the Soaring Eagles take on the Cardinals of St. John Fisher College. The Empire 8 bout is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.